Broncos focus on several players picking up their play

Broncos' Head coach Vance Joseph stands on the field during the National Anthem before Sunday's game against the Rams at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver. (Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)

BRONCOS AT CARDINALS

When: 6:20 p.m., Thursday

Where: State Farm Stadium; Glendale, Ariz.

TV / radio: KDVR (31) / 850 AM, 94.1 & 103.5 FM

Last week, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis was asked about the organization's confidence level in coach Vance Joseph and his staff to right the season.

"They know the deal," Ellis said.

The deal: If the 2-4 Broncos lose Thursday at the 1-5 Arizona Cardinals, it becomes more difficult to justify any faith in Joseph after last year's 5-11 season.

Also the deal: If the Broncos are to begin a turnaround, the onus is on several players who, if they don't pick up their play, may be on a different team in 2019.

"We all get it," Joseph said after Tuesday's practice of the outside chatter.

The week started with general manager John Elway calling the rush defense "soft," and saying the team should be "fighting for their lives," and continued with linebacker Von Miller predicting the Broncos were going to "kick (Arizona's rear end)."

As the season nears the halfway point, we put the focus on one coach and four players:

Why he's the focus: Vance Joseph

Elway isn't going anywhere so if the losing continues, somebody will take the fall, be it during or after the season. Joseph is 7-15 as the Broncos' coach, including 4-14 since last year's 3-1 start. On the road, the Joseph-led Broncos are 1-9.

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Joseph has resisted making any staff changes, be it firings or re-delegation of duties.

The Broncos have three games until their bye week. They need two wins so they can enter mid-November with a 4-5 record. A win over Arizona would slightly turn down the heat on Joseph.

"We've lost four games in a row, everyone's frustrated, the city's on fire," Joseph said. "But we have to simply ignore the noise so we can move on (and) so we can fix it and win. ... We have to ignore it, go back to work and prove that we can win football games. That will stop the noise."

Why he's the focus: Demaryius Thomas

Thomas has six dropped passes. Although he caught a 45-yard pass last week and has a team-high three touchdown receptions, he has been passed by Emmanuel Sanders as the Broncos' No. 1 receiver.

Thomas' salary cap number jumps to $17.5 million in 2019 and the Broncos can save $14 million by cutting him.

The drafting of Courtland Sutton (who needs to see the football more) and DaeSean Hamilton (could be ready for a larger role in '19) triggered thoughts that the Broncos would cut Thomas and Sanders after this year. But Sanders' solid first six weeks (40 catches for 501 yards) should keep him in the plans.

Thomas could be experiencing his final 10 games of his stellar Broncos career.

Why he's the focus: Brandon Marshall

Marshall, listed at 250 pounds but not even close to that (230-ish), dropped weight to be better in coverage. But has it come at the cost of playing the run?

One play from the Rams' run-all-day win over the Broncos should raise a concern. On a drive-starting first-and-10, Todd Gurley gained 29 yards when Marshall simply couldn't get away from right tackle Rob Havenstein's block. Marshall and linebacker Todd Davis then missed the tackle.

Marshall's cap number goes from $7 million this year to $9 million in 2019 and the Broncos can save $5 million by cutting him. Rookie Josey Jewell is a part of the inside linebacker rotation with Marshall and Davis.

If Marshall finishes strong and healthy, he will make for a tough decision.

Why he's the focus: Bradley Roby

Handed the No. 2 cornerback spot — and an opportunity to cash in as a free agent in March — Roby has not played like it.

Teams are 21-of-31 passing for 335 yards and three touchdowns against Roby in man coverage. Because Chris Harris moves inside to cover the slot receiver in nickel situations, teams have not hesitated challenging Roby outside.

"He's a starter for the first time so it takes time to develop the resiliency you need to be an NFL corner," said Joseph, whose argument is a stretch since Roby is in his fifth year.

Roby is playing for his next contract and it would be shocking if he commands anything close to the $8.5 million he is making this year.

The downside for Roby's poor start is that it creates another item for the Broncos' offseason to-do list. Veterans Tramaine Brock and Adam Jones were stop-gap signings and Issac Yiadom needs further developing before he's ready.

Why he's the focus: Case Keenum

Projected as a player who would bring short-term stability to the Broncos' quarterback position, Keenum is ranked 29th in the NFL in passer rating (75.5), tied for first in interceptions (eight) and tied for 23rd in touchdowns (eight).

Maybe we expected too much from Keenum after he helped Minnesota to last year's NFC title game. Maybe our analysis was off-base after Keenum's drama-free training camp.

Keenum's cap number in 2019 is $21 million and the Broncos can save $11 million by releasing him. The Broncos are a long way from benching a healthy Keenum in favor of Chad Kelly, so that discussion is moot. But they need Keenum to be more accurate on the underneath throws and also add a scrambling element to his game to help move the offense.

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